President Obama has issued a challenge to employers, schools and local governments: develop a home-grown technology workforce to boost wages in a 21st-century economy. On the Central Coast, there are some special programs in place to prepare potential employees for jobs in the high-tech world, not just locally, but across the globe. "We formed NextSpace six years ago because we saw a need for the community to come together," NextSpace's Ryan Coonerty said. NextSpace set out to bring people together and provide job training, provide referrals and build a local economy around technology.It now has nine locations across the country with more than 2,000 members, but more can be done to provide high-tech training and jobs locally. "We can not only make sure that people have the skills to continue to compete in a global economy, but that we make sure that less populations are getting those skills and training too so they can raise their incomes and also live in this community," Coonerty said. "We looked at that model. Why don't we take that exact same model and apply it to a youth tech center?" Digital NEST founder and Executive Director Jacob Martinez said. From that model came "Digital NEST," which stands for "Nurturing Entrepreneurial Skills with Technology."Digital NEST opened three months ago. It uses the NextSpace model, but the target is young people between 12 and 24 years old. Digital NEST teaches a variety of technological skills, from website design to video game development and marketing.The organization has hoped high-tech companies will hire hometown talent rather than seeking workers from other locations. "So if we can get the students up to a point where they're competing for those better-paying jobs and keeping those jobs local, we'll see these communities grow locally and from within," Martinez said. Alexandra Suarez is learning a number of different high-tech skills. Her plan is to put those skills to use in law enforcement. "For me, I actually want to be a police officer, but everything is going high-tech, so I want to learn how to use the computer better and also if something happens, I know how to control everything," Suarez said. For the last few years, the city of Santa Cruz has worked on technology initiatives and established a high-tech subcommittee.Santa Cruz City Economic Development Director Bonnie Lipscomb said the city has collaborated with UC Santa Cruz on technology internships and plans to launch a similar program with Cabrillo College this year. "I think the most impactful thing or tech right now is a public-private partnership that we launched in September that is actually about committing local talent to growing technology companies in Santa Cruz," Lipscomb said. Digital NEST has been so successful -- now with more than 200 members -- that it plans to expand the program and eventually establish youth tech centers in rural communities.Digital NEST is also a nonprofit. It relies on donations and partnerships.

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. —

President Obama has issued a challenge to employers, schools and local governments: develop a home-grown technology workforce to boost wages in a 21st-century economy.

On the Central Coast, there are some special programs in place to prepare potential employees for jobs in the high-tech world, not just locally, but across the globe.

"We formed NextSpace six years ago because we saw a need for the community to come together," NextSpace's Ryan Coonerty said.

NextSpace set out to bring people together and provide job training, provide referrals and build a local economy around technology.

It now has nine locations across the country with more than 2,000 members, but more can be done to provide high-tech training and jobs locally.

"We can not only make sure that people have the skills to continue to compete in a global economy, but that we make sure that less [prosperous] populations are getting those skills and training too so they can raise their incomes and also live in this community," Coonerty said.

"We looked at that model. Why don't we take that exact same model and apply it to a youth tech center?" Digital NEST founder and Executive Director Jacob Martinez said.

From that model came "Digital NEST," which stands for "Nurturing Entrepreneurial Skills with Technology."

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Digital NEST opened three months ago. It uses the NextSpace model, but the target is young people between 12 and 24 years old. Digital NEST teaches a variety of technological skills, from website design to video game development and marketing.

The organization has hoped high-tech companies will hire hometown talent rather than seeking workers from other locations.

"So if we can get the students up to a point where they're competing for those better-paying jobs and keeping those jobs local, we'll see these communities grow locally and from within," Martinez said.

Alexandra Suarez is learning a number of different high-tech skills. Her plan is to put those skills to use in law enforcement.

"For me, I actually want to be a police officer, but everything is going high-tech, so I want to learn how to use the computer better and also if something happens, I know how to control everything," Suarez said.

For the last few years, the city of Santa Cruz has worked on technology initiatives and established a high-tech subcommittee.

Santa Cruz City Economic Development Director Bonnie Lipscomb said the city has collaborated with UC Santa Cruz on technology internships and plans to launch a similar program with Cabrillo College this year.

"I think the most impactful thing or tech right now is a public-private partnership that we launched in September that is actually about committing local talent to growing technology companies in Santa Cruz," Lipscomb said.

Digital NEST has been so successful -- now with more than 200 members -- that it plans to expand the program and eventually establish youth tech centers in rural communities.

Digital NEST is also a nonprofit. It relies on donations and partnerships.